There are many ways you can support the fight against Parkinson’s. Whatever form your gift takes, you can be confident that it goes toward providing crucial resources for those affected by this disease.

Non-motor Symptoms: What’s New?

Overview: In this webinar, Dr. Pfeiffer will focus on the detection and effective treatment of non-motor symptoms other than traditional PD medications. He will address how non-motor symptoms, such as impaired sense of smell, sleep behavior changes, constipation and depression may be present years before the classic motor features of PD appear. You will take away specific recommendations on how to cope and live optimally with these non-motor symptoms.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this webinar, the participants will:

Recognize that non-motor symptoms, such as impaired olfaction, REM sleep behavior disorder, pain, constipation and depression may be present years before the classic motor features of PD appear.

Understand that non-motor features frequently become the most troublesome features of PD as it advances.

Be aware that treatment other than traditional PD medications may be needed for non-motor features of PD.

Ronald Pfeiffer, MD

Dr. Pfeiffer received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska and medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He completed neurological training at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. His research focus has been on Parkinson’s disease, primarily in 3 particular areas: clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease, the genetic aspects of Parkinson’s disease, and gastrointestinal dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease. He has participated in over 70 clinical trials, and is a long-standing member of the Parkinson Study Group. He was Chair of the Movement Disorders Section of the American Academy of Neurology from 2012 – 2014, Chair of the Continuing Medical Education Committee of the Movement Disorder Society from 2004-2010, and Chair of the Other Nonmotor Subgroup of the NINDS Parkinson’s Disease Common Element Working Group from 2009-2012. He is author or co-author of over 300 journal articles or book chapters and co-editor of 7 books or monographs. He served as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Parkinsonism and Related Disorders from 2008-2017. Dr. Pfeiffer received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Concordia University-Nebraska in 2001.

Advanced PD and Palliative Care in the 21st Century

Overview: In this webinar, Dr. Miyasaki will review the WHO criteria for palliative care, the various models of palliative care delivery, hospice and hospice criteria in the US, the challenge of palliative care coordination with subspecialists and the people required to make palliative care work. She will also review the symptoms of PD not often associated with symptom burden in addition to spouse and family challenges.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this webinar, the participants will:

Understand the benefits of palliative care regardless of the stage of illness

Learn about the non-traditional symptoms of PD

Understand how palliative care can be incorporated in a practice

Janis Miyasaki, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FAAN

Dr. Miyasaki is a graduate of the University of Toronto completing medical school, residency and a movement disorders fellowship under Dr. Anthony Lang. She joined the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry in 2014 following 22 years at the University of Toronto. Since 2015, Dr. Miyasaki became the Director of the Movement Disorders Program comprising 10 physicians (7 neurologists, 1 functional neurosurgeon, a neuropsychiatrist and geriatrician) and a dedicated interdisciplinary team.

She has held leadership positions at the University of Toronto, the University of Alberta, the International Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorder Society, the Parkinson Study Group and the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Miyasaki founded the first dedicated Palliative Care Program for Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders at the University of Toronto in 2007. Since then, she has published original research on this topic and is viewed as the founder of palliative care for Parkinson’s disease. In 2015, Dr. Miyasaki established the Complex Neurologic Symptoms Clinic at the Kaye Edmonton Clinic, University of Alberta with Dr. Wendy Johnston, an expert in ALS. This program provides care to all neurologic patients with palliative care needs. Recent research includes a study of positive psychology applied to recently diagnosed people with Parkinson’s and a large multicenter randomized controlled study of ambulatory palliative care in Parkinson’s disease funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

Mental Health and PD

Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Laura Marsh, MD Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine

Apathy or Depression: Which One Is It?

June 14, 2016
Dawn Bowers, Ph.D, Professor of Clinical & Health Psychology and Neurology at the University of Florida (UF); Director of the Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at McKnight Brain Institute and Neuropsychology Director, UF Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration

Dealing with DementiaA term used to describe a group of brain disorders that cause a broad complex of symptoms such as disorientation, confusion, memory loss, impaired judgment and alterations in mood and personality. in PD

The Effects of Exercise on PD

Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Margaret Schenkman, P.T., Ph.D., F.A.P.T.A., Associate Dean for Physical Therapy Education and Director of the Physical Therapy Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Parkinson's and Parenting

Tuesday November 18, 2014
Elaine Book, M.S.W., R.S.W., Clinic Social Worker and Center Leader for the NPF Center of Excellence, the Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

Medication Side Effects

Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Hubert H. Fernandez, M.D., Professor of Medicine (Neurology) at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University and the Head of Movement Disorders under the Center for Neurological Restoration at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH